The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-11-03
Mr.. EeWitt'a Letter.

Mayor Hewitt. of New York, though a
good and well-meaIing man, is not always
in all amiable mood. He has been afflicted
for long time with insomnia, and when
things do not go just as he wants them he Is
disposed TO scold
His letter to the President of the Harlem
Democratic Club, published in our dis
patches yesterday, although rather fault
finding i'll its character, contained good
deal OF truth. He was especially happy in
his reference to the bulldozing newspaper
boss who has made his appearance in New
York politics, and in the politics Of some
other places. The newspaper boss does
not seek so much the good Of
the community IN which his
newspaper circuates as he does to have
things his own way, and impress upon the
people the necessity for taking his news
paper.
The newspaper boss is very active in New
York City Just now. Mr.. Hewitt says that
he is dangerous and despotic. There is no
doubt that he is making a great deal of con-
fusion in New York. What is known as the
Nicoll movement was inaugurated by an al
legged Democratic newspap r, and Mr..
Hewitt insists that in its inception the
movement was nothing more than news
paper advertising dodge, The Republicans
seized upon it with the hope
of demoralizing the Democratic party,
and bringing about the return of the Re
publican party to power.
The Republicans insist that they can de-
feat any Democratic candidate for President
except Mr.. Cleveland. and their aim is to
prevent his denomination They hope to do
this by defeating the Democratic party in
New York next Tuesday. If the impression
can be made that the candidate who is
elected President in 1888 must carry New
York. and that Mr. Cleveland cannot carry
New York, his nomination will be doubtful.
If New York is lost to the Democrats next
week, the newspaper boss who hooms the
NicoC movement. and who pretends to be
Democrat, will be largely responsible for it.
Republicanism in the South.
Gen. Woodford, who has been prominent
in the Republican party for many years,
recently made an address before Republi-
can club in Lancaster, Pa. After dwelling
on the great things accomplished by the
party in the past, he showed that he appre-
ciated the weakness of the party's present
position by saying that it is not sufficient
that party should have a record behind
it; it must meet and grapple with the great
questions Of the day. One of the most i'm
portant duties resting upon his party, Gen
Woodford thinks, is the task of Republican
izing the South. He believes that in this
direction lie victory and dominion for his
party, and the weapon with which it can
win them is the protective tariff.
Gen. Woodford's idea that the record of
party is not enough to give it continuous
success before the people is a correct one,
though undoubtedly the history of a party
is a very important element of success when
it is entirely to the party's credit. But in
the South the Republican party has record
which is not at all to its credit. and which
for long time must discredit it in the ewes
of intelligent, orderloving people. In these
States iB was identified with all that was
mean and vile in politics. Its leaders
were men who sought only per-
sonal ends, and those who followed repre-
sented no ideas or principles, but mere blind
opposition to those who owned the property.
This was natural and excusable attitude
of the colored people, and it is the shrewd
carpet-baggers who took advantage of it to
do all manner of wrongful things who
should bear the blame. These leaders OF
the negroes had the backing of the Repub-
lican party at large, and it is also respon-
sible
There are many reasons why the almost
unanimous support which the Republican
party received from the colored voters in
the past is to be regretted not the least of
which is that it has prevented white voters
from dividing on natural lines. The col
ored vote, to very large degree, still ad-
he.es to the Republican party, and as long
as ii does there is little use in preaching Re
publicanism, pure and simple, at the South
To the tariff question the colored voters are
indifferent, because they are wholly igno-
rant concerning it. Whichever is Repub-
lican doctrine is their doctrine, and it might
be changed every month without affecting
their support.
At first glance this unquestioning support
by large majority of the colored voters
would seem to be an element of no little
strength to the Republicans, but in reality
as long as it exists it is an insuperable OBJ
Stacle to the success Of that marty in the
South. 1t forces white voters to cling to
gether to save their local governments from
the control Of those who are untitled to al.
minister them.
r Al. n
pretend to doubt the statement which Gov
Gordon made in his Cincinnati speech day
or two ago, that the white people of the